A major goal at the Center for Financial Security is to translate the center's research and projects into information accessible to the public. We believe the dissemination of information is an important element in any research agenda. Included in the center's publication library are the working papers, podcasts, and presentations of all CFS Projects.

-2011-

The CFS projects for 2011 focus on three tasks: Measuring, Targeting, and Testing financial capacity over the life course.  These three areas combine to ensure current and future Social Security beneficiaries achieve greater levels of financial planning and management while also providing significant insights for the larger financial field.

• Increasing Retirement Savings by Working Women: Understanding and Reducing Contribution Differentials (CFS: 1)

  Karen Holden, UW-Madison

  October 2011

• Using the Right Yardstick: Assessing Financial Literacy Measures and Validating How Well Measures Predict Future Financial Well-Being for Low-Income and Vulnerable Populations (CFS: 2)

  Jason Seligman, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

  October 2011

• Save, Spend or Pay Down Debt Responses of low-income Households to Cash Transfers

  Zakia Barnes, Cynthia Miller, and Nandita Verma, MDRC; J. Michael Collins and Karen Walsh, Center for Financial Security

• October 2011

• Field Experiment on the Impacts of Financial Planning Interventions for Recent Homebuyers (CFS: 5)

  Stephanie Moulton, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

  October 2011

• Tax Refunds and Savings Behavior: Developing Soft-Commitment Opportunities (CFS: 6)

  Damon Jones, The University of Chicago

  October 2011

• Encouraging the Use of the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit Through VITA Sites (CFS: 7)

  Jonathan Spader, Abt Associates Inc.

  October 2011

• Impact of Financial Counseling on Financial Stability: Analysis of the New York City Financial Empowerment Center Model (CFS: 9)

  Cathie Mahon and Monica Martinez, New York City Office of Financial Empowerment

  October 2011

• Public Libraries as Financial Literacy Providers (CFS: 10)

  Catherine Arnott-Smith and Kristin Eschenfelder, UW-Madison

  October 2011

• Field Studies of Online Financial Education for Employees (CFS: 13)

  J. Michael Collins

  October 2011

• Social Network Sites and Internet Forums: An Investigation of Interactions around Personal Finance in the Online Social World (CFS: 14)

  Wendy Way and Nancy Wong, UW-Madison

  October 2011

• Money $mart in Head Start: Financial Education and Outreach with Head Start Families

  Peggy Olive, UW-Cooperative Extension, Collin O'Rourke and J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison

  June 2011

• Summary of Workshop Proceedings: Exploring the Intersection between Financial Capability and Domestic Violence

  Leah Gjertson, UW-Madison

  May 2011

• Integrating Financial Capacity Building Into Public Programs (2011-2.1)
  

  J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison

  February 2011

-2010-

In 2010, the Center for Financial Security sought to provide evidence on how financial education occurs over the life course.  Through quantitative projects, comprehensive literature reviews, focus groups, and in-depth interviews, the CFS 2010 Projects identify measures of financial literacy and provide insight into key teachable moments.

A comprehensive list of all 2010 project abstracts from the Financial Literacy Research Consortium are available here:

2010 Financial Literacy Research Consortium Projects

• The Center for Financial Security: A Summary of FLRC Activities, Accomplishments, and Findings from Year One and a Look Ahead to Year Two (FLRC 10-9)
  

  The Center for Financial Security
  November 2010

• The Link Between Economic Status and Domestic Violence (2010-10.1)
  

  Collin O'Rourke, UW-Madison
  October 2010

• Consumer Financial Behavior: Integrating Disciplines to Understand Fundamental Economic Activity at the Household Level (paper submitted to National Science Foundation)

  J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison
  October 2010

• Attitudes to Savings and Financial Education Among Disability-Related Population Groups: Findings from the Financial Literacy Focus Groups (FLRC 10-8)

  Katherine Anne Dahlem, Abt. Associates
  October 2010

• Attitudes to Saving and Financial Education Among Low-Income Populations: Findings from the Financial Literacy Focus Groups (FLRC 10-7)

  Jennifer Turnam, Abt. Associates
  October 2010

• Harnessing the Power of Technology to Enhance Financial Literacy Education and Personal Financial Well-Being (FLRC 10-6)

  Wendy L. Way, UW-Madison and Nancy Wong, UW-Madison
  September 2010

• A Review of Financial Advice Models and the Take-Up of Financial Advice (FLRC 10-5)

  J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison
  September 2010

• Theories of Human Behavior and Emotions: What They Imply About the Financial Behavior of Vulnerable Populations (FLRC 10-4)

  Karen Holden, UW-Madison
  September 2010

• Trigger Events and Financial Outcomes Over the Lifespan (FLRC 10-3)

  Maximilian D. Schmeiser, The Federal Reserve Board of Governors
  September 2010

• Trigger Events and Financial Outcomes Among Older Households (FLRC 10-2)

  Geoffrey L. Wallace, Robert Haveman, Karen Holden and Barbara Wolfe, UW-Madison
  September 2010

• Early Life School and Cognition and Late Life Financial Literacy in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (FLRC 10-1)

  Pamela Herd, UW-Madison and Karen Holden, UW-Madison
  September 2010

• Financial Education and Counseling - Still Holding Promise

  J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison and Collin O'Rourke, UW-Madison
  Fall 2010

• Weighing the Evidence of the Effectiveness of Counseling and Education for Home Owners (2010-7.1)
  

  Collin O'Rourke, UW-Madison
  July 2010

• Ten Ways to Build on Tax Time to Promote Financial Security (2010-7.2)
  

  The Center for Financial Security
  July 2010